Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
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| Pub Date: 5-27-25 Adult - Romance |
Problematic Summer Romance- Ali Hazelwood: Maya Killgore has a problem and it's Conor Harkness. Maya is twenty-three years old and knows she's the epitome of a walking cliche falling for her brother's best friend who is fifteen years her senior, but she can't help it. Three years ago, Conor came to her aid and the pair formed a bond that grew into something neither expected. Until Conor ruined it, his reasoning was sound: their obvious age difference and the power imbalance that comes along with it, and he made it clear that a relationship between them could never exist. But Maya has always held out hope. So when her brother decides to get married in Italy, forcing Maya and Conor to spend the week in a romantic Sicilian villa, Maya decides it's now or never. It's clear that Conor is holding himself back, and as the week spirals out of control, Maya is determined to do the same to Conor's resolve.
Even though I haven't loved all of Hazelwood's books, she's an auto-read author for me, and lucky for me, her last few releases have been bangers. Age gap isn't my favorite romance trope, but I ate it up here. I appreciated the differences between our two main characters. Maya was headstrong and feisty, while Conor was stoic and level-headed. You could tell how hard he fought with himself to ignore his feelings, and I understood his reasoning behind it, but his constantly pushing her away and refusing to take her feelings at face value did get annoying. But when he finally gave in? Wowza. They had such a deep emotional connection that I didn't even mind that they went from zero to one hundred so quickly. Aside from the romance, I loved the setting and getting more time with Eli, Rue, and Nyota, who I think is hilarious. If you're wondering what to read at the beach this summer, put this on top of your list.
Even though I haven't loved all of Hazelwood's books, she's an auto-read author for me, and lucky for me, her last few releases have been bangers. Age gap isn't my favorite romance trope, but I ate it up here. I appreciated the differences between our two main characters. Maya was headstrong and feisty, while Conor was stoic and level-headed. You could tell how hard he fought with himself to ignore his feelings, and I understood his reasoning behind it, but his constantly pushing her away and refusing to take her feelings at face value did get annoying. But when he finally gave in? Wowza. They had such a deep emotional connection that I didn't even mind that they went from zero to one hundred so quickly. Aside from the romance, I loved the setting and getting more time with Eli, Rue, and Nyota, who I think is hilarious. If you're wondering what to read at the beach this summer, put this on top of your list.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 7-22-25 Adult - Romance |
Friends to Lovers- Sally Blakely: Joni and Ren have been attached at the hip since they were children. They have never been apart for long and do everything together. So when Joni accepts a job offer across the country, and they're afraid their relationship will suffer the distance, they devise a plan. They decide they'll be each other's plus-ones for any wedding they get invited to, no matter what. Their tradition works, until one time it doesn't. Now, Joni is back at the summer house her family shares with Ren's for her sister's wedding. She and Ren haven't spoken in over two years, but Joni is determined to fake it not to arouse any suspicions. But as the week goes on, Joni realizes she can't live a life without Ren and will do whatever it takes to get him back.
This one is for the People We Meet on Vacation girlies, but swap out trips for weddings, and I loved every second of it. Blakely's writing was so effortless and breezy. I loved Joni and Ren right from the start. They had the type of playful dynamic that I eat up. They had such a solid friendship, but you could tell there was an underlying tension between them, so I was waiting for it to come to a head. Because they were such good friends, it felt natural for their relationship to progress into something more. I liked how Blakely included snippets of the past weddings they attended, so we got to see the whole picture of where their relationship went wrong. It was predictable, but I didn't mind. This would make the perfect beach read, and I'm excited to read more from this author.
This one is for the People We Meet on Vacation girlies, but swap out trips for weddings, and I loved every second of it. Blakely's writing was so effortless and breezy. I loved Joni and Ren right from the start. They had the type of playful dynamic that I eat up. They had such a solid friendship, but you could tell there was an underlying tension between them, so I was waiting for it to come to a head. Because they were such good friends, it felt natural for their relationship to progress into something more. I liked how Blakely included snippets of the past weddings they attended, so we got to see the whole picture of where their relationship went wrong. It was predictable, but I didn't mind. This would make the perfect beach read, and I'm excited to read more from this author.
Rating: 4/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 5-20-25 Adult - Romance |
Left of Forever- Tarah DeWitt: Wren and Ellis have known each other since they were kids. They grew up together, fell in love, and got pregnant and married before they barely crested adulthood. They always thought they'd be together forever, but then it all fell apart. Divorced now and in their thirties, Wren and Ellis make a conscious effort to steer clear of the other unless it has to do with their son, Sam. Despite their distance, neither has stopped thinking of the other, and Ellis decides enough is enough. When they move Sam into his college apartment, Ellis plans an extended vacation for him and Wren on the way back home. Wren reluctantly agrees to road-tripping through California, but the awkwardness she expected isn't there. Instead, the pair slip comfortably back into what they once were but better. They begin working through their issues and confronting the past and soon realize the love they once shared burns brighter than ever.
I've never read anything by this author before, but I kept hearing people rave about this book, and I've grown to love second-chance romance, so I was looking forward to picking it up. I loved the mix of setting between this coastal town in Oregon and road-tripping through California. It felt perfect for the summery time of year. I also liked Wren and Ellis a lot. They were well-developed, so they felt like real people to me. There was so much history and hurt between them, so it was rewarding seeing them be open and vulnerable with one another. They worked through their issues maturely despite a few hiccups along the way. The pacing of their relationship was quite a slow burn, but the payoff was worth it. I thought DeWitt balanced the tender and steamy moments perfectly, and I can't wait to dive into the rest of her books.
I've never read anything by this author before, but I kept hearing people rave about this book, and I've grown to love second-chance romance, so I was looking forward to picking it up. I loved the mix of setting between this coastal town in Oregon and road-tripping through California. It felt perfect for the summery time of year. I also liked Wren and Ellis a lot. They were well-developed, so they felt like real people to me. There was so much history and hurt between them, so it was rewarding seeing them be open and vulnerable with one another. They worked through their issues maturely despite a few hiccups along the way. The pacing of their relationship was quite a slow burn, but the payoff was worth it. I thought DeWitt balanced the tender and steamy moments perfectly, and I can't wait to dive into the rest of her books.
Rating: 4/5
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